كلثوم

Kaltun

girlSomali form of Arabic Kulthum

Kaltun is a Muslim girl name meaning “Plump-cheeked, chubby-faced”.

MeaningPlump-cheeked, chubby-faced
GenderGirl
OriginSomali form of Arabic Kulthum
Arabic spellingكلثوم
Pronunciationkal-TOON
Muslim name?Islamic / Arabic name

Meaning and origin of Kaltun

Kaltun is the Somali form of the Arabic name Kulthūm. In Arabic, kulthūm describes a person with full, rounded cheeks, and the name is usually explained as plump-cheeked or chubby-faced, which in early Arab culture was a sign of health and attractiveness. The name has no widely used three-letter root explanation and is best understood through this traditional meaning. Its importance for Muslims comes less from its literal sense than from the people who carried it.

The name is best known through Umm Kulthūm, a daughter of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who married ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān. In Somali the Arabic th sound is not used, so Kulthūm became Kaltun, often written Kaltuun with the doubled vowel showing the long u, and Kaltumo with the typical Somali feminine ending -o. It is pronounced kal-TOON. Related forms elsewhere include Kalsoom in South Asia and Kaltoum in North Africa. The name is common among Somali families in Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and the diaspora. The celebrated Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum also carried the name.

Famous people named Kaltun

Is Kaltun a Muslim name?

Yes. Kaltun is a Somali Muslim name, the local form of Kulthum, which is tied to Umm Kulthum, daughter of the Prophet ﷺ.

Where is the name Kaltun used?

Common among Somali families in Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and the Somali diaspora.

Gifts with the name Kaltun

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Spellings and variants of Kaltun

KaltuunKaltumoKulthumKalsoomKaltoum

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More girl names like Kaltun

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Kaltun mean?

Kaltun means 'Plump-cheeked, chubby-faced'. It comes from Somali form of Arabic Kulthum.

Is Kaltun a Muslim name?

Yes. Kaltun is a Somali Muslim name, the local form of Kulthum, which is tied to Umm Kulthum, daughter of the Prophet ﷺ.

How do you write Kaltun in Arabic?

Kaltun is written كلثوم in Arabic script.

How do you pronounce Kaltun?

Kaltun is pronounced kal-TOON.

Is Kaltun the same as Kulthum?

Yes. Kaltun is the Somali form of the Arabic Kulthum.

What is the Somali spelling of Kaltun?

In Somali spelling the name is often written Kaltuun or Kaltumo.

Updated October 2026 · Researched by the Modern Muslim Names team. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.